BIBA

Buy Department S Tee Shirts HereBiba remains the most evocative name in post-War British fashion.Born as a small boutique in 1964 just as London started to swing, its upward mobility followed a path diametrically opposed to that of the society around it. As the amphetamine rush of optimism wore off, and the country found itself heading inexorably towards the come-down of the three-day week, Biba – now filling all seven storeys of the old Derry & Toms store with own-brand produce – provided the escapism that Britain craved.Drawing on Art Deco, Nouveau, Victoriana and the golden age of Hollywood, it was more than just fashion: it was a whole world, a lifestyle choice. At the height of the store’s glory, the committed shopper could buy not only a new wardrobe, fully co-ordinated from head to toe, but also a complete range of cosmetics and soft furnishings, together with the washing powder to care for her clothes, and food for both herself and her pets, all presented in the distinctive Biba packaging. Alternatively she could just hang out, either lounging in the shop-windows (Biba didn’t do window-displays), or sipping cocktails upstairs amongst the flamingos that lived in the Roof Garden, or in the Rainbow Room, where on a good night there might be a live performance by the likes of the New York Dolls, Liberace or the Manhattan Transfer.It was not so much a department store as a theme park devoted to elegantly wasted decadence.Brigitte Bardot, Raquel Welch and Princess Anne may have shopped there; Mick and Marianne, Sonny and Cher, David and Angie may have been regular visitors; but the store was never the exclusive preserve of the rich and famous: prices were kept deliberately low, and anyone who could tolerate the disdainful inefficiency of the staff was encouraged to soak up the glamour of an unforgettable shopping experience.And then it crashed and burned. In 1975 the unacceptable face of capitalism (which was definitely not wearing Biba eye-shadow) turned its gaze on Biba, decided that it preferred the real estate to the fantasy, and closed the shop down. And so the dream ended. Unlike its contemporaries, the likes of Virgin and Habitat, Biba fulfilled the rock & roll promise to live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse, and is consequently remembered with a fondness almost unique in the world of retail.Its influence, however, has survived. Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren drew on its inspiration for Sex, the democratisation of fashion that it initiated became commonplace, and – in the new age of insecurity – designers are increasingly turning once again to its retrophiliac sense of style.September 2004 was the 40th anniversary of the first Biba shop and was marked by the first major book on the subject and the release of a CD of music evocative of its final incarnation.The Biba Experience centres on newly commissioned photographs of the largest collection of Biba in the world, put together by Pari, who began collecting the label in the 1980s and has accumulated approximately 350 pieces of clothing, merchandising and memorabilia, covering the entire history of the company. Everything from dresses and trouser suits through original sketches and patterns to playing cards and soap powder is represented. Pari acquired a taste for decadent style whilst growing up in the environment of a Berlin strip-club run by her aunt.This lavishly illustrated and beautifully produced book is intended for those interested in fashion and graphic design of the Sixties and Seventies, from a creative and historical standpoint, plus the huge number of people who remember Biba from the period with enormous affection.Alwyn W Turner is a widely published writer on popular culture of the Sixties and Seventies. His work is featured in books such as The Rough Guide to Rock and in Mojo magazine and he is a contributor to the BBC Online website. His own websites Trash Fiction and Glitter Suits & Platform Boots focus on books and music of the period.I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4